History, analysis, and unabashed gossip about the start of the American Revolution in Massachusetts.

J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

The publisher of Nat Philbrick’s book Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution has offered to send a free copy of the new paperback edition to a Boston 1775 reader. It’s an energetic retelling of the first campaign of the Revolutionary War, and if you’ve already got a copy it can make a fine introduction to the subject for someone else.

In thinking about how to give that book away, I got inspired by the Russells and decided to offer this challenge:

Post up to fourteen lines of original rhymed, metrical verse on the subject of the Battle of Bunker Hill as a comment to this blog posting. Limericks would be especially welcome. Sonnets would be especially impressive.

Verses based on postings from the preceding several days would show you’ve been reading, but the lines could be about any aspect of the Battle of Bunker Hill: the whole fight, small incidents, personalities, historiography.

The entry deadline will be the end of 1 July 2014.

On 4 July, the Boston 1775 staff will choose the most moving or entertaining entry and award that poet his or her own copy of Philbrick’s Bunker Hill, to be sent direct from the publisher.

From up on Bunker HillWas heard such a ShrillThat we knew that the redcoats were comingWhen out of the reedsThey climbed upon Breed'sAs fire rained down all upon themThe hillside was red With the blood of the dead Dr Warren was slain where he'd fallenSo Howe won the dayBut was then heard to sayWith many more wins we''ll be finished

The Rebs go marching one by one.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching one by one.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching one by one;Captain Prescott says, "I have no guns!"And they all go marching up, to the topTo build themselves a redoubtBoom, boom, boom, boom!

The Whigs go marching two by two.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching two by two.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching two by two;General Putnam stops to enjoy the viewAnd they all go marching back, up the hillto cover the retreatBoom, boom, boom, boom!

The Whigs go marching three by three.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching three by three.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching three by three;Captain Knowlton says "Will you look at the sea!?!"And they all go marching down to the beachTo extend the fortification's reachBoom, boom, boom, boom!

The Whigs go marching four by four.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching four by four.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Whigs go marching four by four;The Regulars begin landing on the shore!And they all start marching up, the big hillto swallow them whole.Boom, boom, boom, boom!

The Brits go marching five by five.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching five by five.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching five by five;Many of them wonder 'Will they return alive'?And they all keep marching up, the big hillTo swallow them wholeBoom, boom, boom, boom!

The Brits go marching six by six.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching six by six.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching six by six;The little one stops to bang his sticksAnd they all keep marching up, the big hillTo swallow them whole.Boom, boom, boom, boom!

The Brits go marching eight by eight.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching eight by eight.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching eight by eight;until they reach the fiery gateAnd they all go tumbling, down to the groundTo get away from the painBoom, boom, boom, boom!

The Brits go marching nine by nine.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching nine by nine.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching nine by nine;General Howe must have his wineAnd they all go tumbling, down to the groundTo get away from the painBoom, boom, boom, boom!

The Brits go marching ten by ten.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching ten by ten.Huzzah! Huzzah!The Brits go marching ten by ten;Until they finally make the ascentand the Whigs go tumbling, down to the ground To get away from the painboom, boom, boom, boom!

I submitted an entry yesterday but I wss logged into my wife's Google account by mistake. I thought I'd submit another entry. This is set to the tune of "THe Ants go Marching"